Paroled killer from Iowa will live in Olathe

A man convicted in the 1992 murder of a woman in Iowa was paroled this week and will live with relatives in Olathe.

Brian Lee Davis served 17 years of a 50-year sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the killing of 23-year-old Julie Baack.

Davis, 42, had been scheduled for release in 2018, but the Iowa Parole Board granted his request for early release.

The parole board chairman did not return a phone call seeking comment, but the victim’s sister said the board noted that Davis had been a “stellar prisoner.”

Beth Baack-Williams said she fought against the release of the man who killed her younger sister.

“He should absolutely serve his full sentence,” she said.

Fred Scaletta, a spokesman for the Iowa Department of Corrections, said that because Davis was released early, he will be under “very intensive” supervision and can be returned to prison if he fails to comply with parole restrictions.

If he had been released in 2018, he would not have been subject to any supervision, Scaletta said.

“In most cases, everybody eventually gets out of prison,” Scaletta said. “If we can help with their adjustment, there is a strong benefit for them not returning to prison.”

Kansas parole officers will supervise Davis as part of an interstate compact. Such an arrangement is not uncommon, even when offenders have been convicted of serious crimes, according to Scaletta.

Kansas corrections records show that nine Iowa inmates were paroled to Kansas last year and 10 Kansas inmates were released to Iowa.

Having strong family support is crucial for a parolee’s success, and Davis was paroled to Kansas because he had that support in Olathe, according to Scaletta.

A phone message at the home of Davis’ relative in Olathe was not returned Thursday.